AUBURN, Alabama -- Former Auburn running back Bo Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner, successful businessman in the Chicago area and a member of Auburn's four-man search committee, had high praise for Gus Malzahn's performance in the interview process.

Although athletic director Jay Jacobs declined to discuss the details of Auburn's coaching search in terms of candidates who missed out, Jackson said Malzahn rose above the rest.

"We talked to a lot of talented coaches out there," Jackson said. "A lot of coaches that are going to be Division I coaches elsewhere, and they're all stars in their own right. Gus shined a little bit brighter than those guys."

Malzahn's zeal during the interview process impressed Jackson, part of a committee that was unanimous in its recommendation for head coach.

"The passion with which he answered questions," Jackson said. "The gleam in his eye. The tenacity, and the way he explained the things he wanted to do here."

And although Jackson lives in Burr Ridge, Ill., he showed an appreciation for how divided Auburn's fan base has been in the nine days since the Tigers fired Gene Chizik.

"In some way, to come into a hornet's nest like this, and say, hey, my job is to rebuild this program, to get these kids back to the winning ways Auburn fans are used to, that says a lot," Jackson said.

Uniting the fan base, though, isn't Malzahn's job, Jackson said.

"That's not Gus's job," Jackson said. "Gus's job is to get this team back to its winning ways."